Center for Freedom and Western Civilization Programs

Project Afghanistan

Project Afghanistan is a major new initiative that puts Colgate in partnership with the eQuality Alliance, a consortium of several Afghan and Western universities.

The project is utilizing several grants and initial funding from the Center for Freedom and Western Civilization to build stronger ties with Kabul University and help it develop new course materials and programs.

The initiative was launched in 2005 after Alexander Nakhimovsky, associate professor of computer science and a member of the center's advisory board, traveled to Washington to meet with R. Michael Smith '70, and Dr. Ashraf Ghani, chancellor of Kabul University. (Michael Smith had known Dr. Ghani from his work in Afghanistan.)

In the weeks that followed, Project Afghanistan came into existence, formulated its goals, and established connections with several complementary efforts.

Initial funding for the project was provided by the center, which sees the project as a natural extension of its mission: Afghanistan is a country that is struggling to build a stable democracy, and one of the main prerequisites for stable democracy is high-quality university education that both instills the habits of critical thinking and prepares for careers in the modern world.

Program on Economic Freedom

The Program on Economic Freedom will be directed by Professor Chad Sparber, professor of Economics.

Program in Constitutional Government

The Program in Constitutional Government will be directed by Professor Stanley Brubaker, professor of Political Science.

Program on Classical Studies

The Program on Classical Studies will be directed by Professor Robert Garland, Roy D. and Margaret B. Wooster Professor of The Classics.